The night was dense with a quiet chill as Carter''s team assembled in the cked-out van, stationed a short distance from the dpidated warehouse where Dr. Vinueva was being held.


    Inside the lead vehicle, Carter reviewed the operation details onest time with his team.


    "Listen up, everyone," Carter began. "This is an extraction mission. Our primary objective is to retrieve Dr. Vinueva, alive and unharmed. Expect heavy resistance. Drones report about twenty hostiles on site, likely armed and dangerous."


    He paused, ensuring he had everyone''s attention. "We go in covertly. Use silenced weapons only. I want minimal noise and zero visibility. Anything—or anyone—thates in your way and poses a threat, you neutralize. Do it quietly.


    We can''t afford to draw attention."


    Carter handed out thest of the gear as he continued, "I''ll be in your ear the whole time, coordinating from thems van. Now who is ready to get some?"


    "We are sir!" intoned the five members of the extraction team in unison.


    Carter nodded, satisfied with their readiness. "Alright. Good luck out there."


    With that, one of the special forces slid the door of the van open and then stepped out. He was trailed by the other two who would go with him, their weapons trained at the front. In ordance with the n, two Special Forces waited inside the vehicle for an immediate getaway.


    The three on foot moved swiftly but silently, blending into the dark as they approached the warehouse perimeter. Theymunicated through hand signals, avoiding any unnecessary noise. The night vision goggles they wore painted the world in shades of green, enhancing their ability to navigate and identify threats in near pitch-ck conditions.


    As they neared the building, Carter''s voice crackled quietly in their earpieces, "Sabers, you''re approaching the east side entrance. Thermal scans show four heat signatures near the front, probably guards. You may have to go around as there are no windows to avoid. I rmend using the secondary door on the northeast; it appears less guarded but stay sharp."


    The team leader codenamed Saber One, acknowledged the instruction with a quick hand gesture, redirecting his team to adjust their path. They moved towards the northeast, carefully skirting the edge of the warehouse to avoid detection.


    As they reached the secondary door, Saber Two, quickly and silently pried the door open with a gun-shaped multi-tool designed for such tasks. The door gave way with a soft creak, barely audible over the gentle hum of distant machinery inside the warehouse.


    Saber Two gestured to the others, signaling the clear entry, and the team slipped through the door into a dimly lit corridor lined with crates and barrels, providing ample cover. Saber One took the lead, his weapon raised and ready, as they advanced deeper into the building—.


    Saber One raised a fist as he spotted two silhouetted figures near a stack of boxes.


    "Two tangos, ten o''clock," Saber One whispered into his mic.


    He signaled Saber Two with a hand gesture, pointing towards the tango on the right and then to his own eyes, indicating his target on the left. Saber Two nodded, understanding the n without a word being spoken. They needed to take them down quietly and simultaneously to avoid rming anyone else in the warehouse.


    Saber One silently counted down with his fingers for synchronization. "Three...two...one..."


    On zero, Saber Two swiftly aimed his silenced pistol at the tango on the right, squeezing the trigger, and hitting the tango on the right in a critical spot.


    Simultaneously, Saber One moved like a shadow across the floor, closing the distance to his target with fluid, noiseless steps. In one swift motion, he drew abat knife from his belt, reached the tango on the left, and executed a swift, clean move to neutralize the threat... The tango crumpled to the ground without a sound.


    Both targets down, Saber One gestured to the team to move forward, scanning the area quickly for any additional threats.


    They ventured deeper until they saw a light in the middle section of the warehouse.


    "Boss…positive ID on the package," Saber One reported to Carter through thems. "He''s alive, seated, and appears restrained. Surrounded by three armed guards."


    "Understood, Sabers. Proceed with caution. Neutralize them and extract the package and we''ll be out of here with time to get a midnight snack," Carter responded over thems.


    Saber One quickly assessed the new threat. "Saber Two, Saber Three, positions," hemanded softly but firmly. "On my go. We take them simultaneously. Minimal noise, quick action. Saber Two, take the guard on the left.


    Saber Three, you have the one on the right. I''ll handle the center. We strike on three."


    Each team member confirmed their target with a nod, their eyes locked on their respective marks. Saber One counted silently, his fingers raised to ensure coordination.


    "One... two... three."


    Like clockwork, the sound of three silenced shots pierced the slight hum of the warehouse. All three guards dropped almost simultaneously, with no time to react or sound an rm.


    "Tangoes down," Saber One reported before approaching the body of Dr. Vinueva. He swiftly removed the handcuffs binding the doctor''s wrists. As the restraints clicked open, Dr. Vinueva stirred, blinking rapidly as he adjusted to the dim light and the figures standing over him.@@novelbin@@


    "Who... who are you?" Dr. Vinueva''s voice was hoarse, his confusion evident as he tried to make sense of his surroundings and the sudden change in his situation.


    "We''re here to get you out of here," Saber One replied in a calm, reassuring tone, offering a hand to help the doctor to his feet. "You''re safe now, Dr. Vinueva. Can you walk?"


    Dr. Vinueva nodded, still visibly disoriented but managing to find some strength.


    "Yes, I think so," he murmured, epting Saber One''s help to stand. As he rose, Saber One kept a steadying hand on his arm, scanning the area for any further threats.


    "Stay close to me," Saber One instructed, guiding Dr. Vinueva toward the exit path they had secured. Saber Two and Saber Three fell into formation behind them, their weapons at the ready as they escorted the doctor through the warehouse.


    As they moved, Saber One stayed in constantmunication with Carter, updating him on their progress. "Package is secure, we''re moving out now," he whispered into thems.


    "Copy that, Sabers. We are ready at the RV point. See you there."


    As they made their way towards the extraction point, Saber One stopped in his tracks.


    "What?" Saber Two asked.


    And Saber Three, without asking, knew the answer to why they stopped.


    They run into a kid, about twelve years old, visibly confused.


    "Shit," Saber One cursed.